From Puritan Thomas Brooks’ book Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices:
“The first device that Satan has to keep souls in a sad, doubting, and questioning condition, and so making their life a hell, is by causing them to be still poring and musing upon sin, to mind their sins more than their Savior; yes, so to mind their sins as to forget, yes, to neglect their Savior, that, as the Psalmist speaks, ‘The Lord is not in all their thoughts’ (Psalm 10:4). Their eyes are so fixed upon their disease, that they cannot see the remedy, though it be near; and they do so muse upon their debts, that they have neither mind nor heart to think of their Surety. A Christian should wear Christ in his bosom as a flower of delight, for he is a whole paradise of delight. He who minds not Christ more than his sin, can never be thankful and fruitful as he should.”
Tony Reinke 
Tony,
What a timely and encouraging post! Thank you!
I would hope it’s not a disservice to Brook’s quote, to add, “and circumstances.” “He who minds not Christ more than his sin AND CIRCUMSTANCES, can never be thankful and fruitful as he should.” Often, I become more fixed on trials, whether mine or other’s, and “cannot see the remedy, though it be near.”
Blessings! Linda
“A Christian should wear Christ in his bosom as a flower of delight, for he is a whole paradise of delight.”
Brilliant!
Linda, yes, I would agree with you. Thanks for pointing this out. Blessings! Tony
Satan has not had to change his tactics since Adam because human nature is so consistent. Ever since we learned the difference between “good” and “evil”, we have gravitated toward “evil” because we rebel against the idea that God is always in control.
[…] HT:TR […]
Thomas Brooks has hit the nail on the head with that observation. I always enjoy reading his material. He had tremendous insight. Thank you for posting it.
[…] HT: Tony Reinke […]